Present from Bali

Thanks for the present little bro, love the colour, it will go well with the new top I got from Shen.

Sorry to keep you waiting yesterday and sorry for my delayed thank you note, was really rushing yesterday. Hope you were not late for your SPK class. See you around, muahs.

xxx

Technology is definitely adding more life and colours to our communication today. My boss, from his room, which is like 5 strides away from my desk, sent me an sms telling me today is Guan Yin's enlightenment day. So I sent him a message through MSN messenger telling him I'm aware of that and I'll be good and won't scold anyone today (will leave that to tomorrow haha).

Tuesday Again

It's really nice to have a boss (a few bosses) who are generous enough to buy me lunch almost everyday (whenever I have lunch with him/ them). The best thing was, my immediate boss even remembers the type of fruits I like - he ordered that for me without me asking. How nice can a boss get? Or rather, how nice of a boss can you get?

There were some havoc case later the afternoon, that caused a slight delay of me leaving the office, and the end result was me running late for the 6.45pm combat. I arrived at the gym and I could see from downstairs that the studio is being emptied for the combaters to enter class... I quickly check at the reception to see if the class was full, no point rushing or squeezing in if it's already with a full registration list (chances are there are many more unregistered members). But there were a few more space on the list... so I rushed to the locker room, but half way decided to attract the gals' (Farid, Diha & Shen) attention so they can keep me some space. Instead of attracting the attention of the tall gal, I attracted the attention of that tall guy in front of her indicating that I should hurry.

Met with a few more combaters in the locker room trying to rush for the class too, a few of us ended up waiting at the entrance for the first track to end (we don't want to risk our lives entering the class, with little space to maneuver to an available spot, while everyone was doing their back kicks, do we?)

The class was really full, I can't remember the last time I joint this class, it's a very fun and happening class, I would say I like this crowd better than the Monday Curve crowd. The only challenge with this class is (besides trying vainly to manage with space while still trying to do the full evasive side kicks) the difficulty in getting a good view (if not any view at all) of the teacher. No stage at MML, and due to the combat master being such a cute character, I do find it challenging (even with my height, ahem...). So we tried to stick out our ears for verbal instructions, but the thing with verbal instruction is you can't figure out the source is, it's going to sound the same no matter where the combat master stand right? So, thus a small episode in the middle of the class...

We were diligently contributing to the appropriate kias and hey hey heys at all the accurate moments, and on the cue (which is lowering of music normally right?) we raise the volumes of our kias and got really expert doing the moves without the music for a while. I was secretly wondering (and so I found out, Shen like wise) how did the combat master managed to lower the volume when he's (I'm quite sure although I didn't get a good view of him) so far away from the sound system? Wah... got remote control izit? THEN we realized it's actually a technical problem of the sound system. Goshh...

So we were under-workout for our left limbs (as I quote the gals, one side will be bigger) since we didn't get to finish that particular track and went straight to muay thai. I was a bit confused with the moves and must have looked funny during certain part of the track, luckily I was at the back, I'm sure no one noticed... But what I did notice was someone (a person I mentioned previously as being the nice guy who helped me with my weights) jumping up so high that he might be threatening to break the ceiling... wow... and I thought Shen is already soooo tall...

After the class was a good round of updates aka gossip. Very informative dears, thanks a lot. I shall put all the constructive ideas into my action plan.

xxx
While blogging, multi-tasked with MSN-ing fav instructor. (it was something like this...)

blah blah...

me: miss baking you cakes...
FI: it's ok lah, can wait...
me: hehe... What cake do you like more?
FI: ... butter marble cake...
me: Easier than making choc cake hehe.. I'll make sure I come with the cake the next time I see you.
FI: So long it's butter cake.
FI: Thanks!
me: anytime darling, you are my VIP teacher...
FI: then manjakid is also VP?
me: junior VIP, more of little brother actually... haha....

Thank gawd for msn, how else do we manage to "talk" to someone we can hardly manage to see?

xxx

Meanwhile, a bit of spoiler in here if you haven't finish reading HP7 (this is a warning, if you haven't then just stop reading here...)












OK, according to the "forum" besides plain gossiping, the conclusion was that the sorting hat was not summoned by "Voldy" (so I quote Farid, this is such a cute nickname) but it flew out on its own to "save" Neville, just like it appeared out of no where in the Secret Chamber so the Harry can pull out the sword from it... So, I'm the one who'd interpreted differently, I had the impression that Voldy summoned the hat (when he did some waving with his wand). Ok Alan, like you said.

HP Forum (believe me, no spoiler, it's just my blog title)

Since I've finished reading my HP, I entitled myself to all these little forums discussing about the story and plot. There are a few things which we find, commonly, puzzle us... so I tried to search for some answers on the web, and amazingly found a lot in Wikipedia. Later the day, master chef and her hubby joint in the forum since it's waking up time in UK, and my bro in law was actually checking back the book for answers... haha... this is getting to be like HP exam like that. Many of us were so inspired that we decided to start reading from book 1 all over again, we are sure that we will discover things which we didn't take notice the last time (or times) and be thrilled all over again.

It's 40 minutes to combat class and I'm still in the office, but no matter since The Curve is so near... actually, I've decided 5 minutes ago that I will drop combat today... I was thinking this aloud just now and my boss said "how do you want to do combat with your sore throat?!" Erm... okay, why I cannot do combat with sore throat? Because I cannot shout is it? Humphh... but my point is didn't I just said I decided to drop combat ah? Nevertheless, I will not want to miss pump, especially when I'm most probably going to miss Thursday pump at MML for a meeting-up arrangement at The Curve instead; AND for sure I won't be able to make it to the Saturday pump due to some volunteer work thingy throughout the whole weekend.

Ok, but anyways, the reason why I plan to give up combat is of course not just because I've got sore throat lah, I'm sure one less shouting from me is not going to make any difference. I'm not feeling so fit since the weekend, told Carebear on MSN just now that I hope I won't faint in pump later. I think too much of Panadol and Clarinase during the weekend and I don't really like to eat a lot of meat and stuff alike. So, just in case the combat class turn out to be a madness-non-stop-torturing-class like last Monday (ya, don't know what got into the combat master that night), which requires full stamina and energy, I better not risk fainting in combat (it's going to be dangerous right? with people still kicking and stuff). That's why better give up the class for today, can always join one tomorrow.

Meanwhile, just discussed with MB about a potential surprise birthday do... oh don't worry, that person doesn't read my blog... or does he/ she?

Jinx

Certain things are jinxed... (no, I'm not talking about Harry Potter). Really, have you ever heard that if you talk about certain things, that certain thing in question will turn out to be a failure? Don't know what I'm talking about right... for example, mum always keep her wine making very low profile, she said not to mention it otherwise it will not turn into wine properly; I've even heard that we are not suppose to give compliment to how well a cake is rising in the oven or else the cake will turn out sunken (not true lah, but no harm taking extra precautions, haha); I've also found out lately that there are some other things which cannot be mentioned if I want it to happen... ok, I'm a bit confused with the structure and grammar of my sentences also here... how shall I put this?

One of my girlfriends, who has recently became one of my regular readers (thank you!), asked me how come I've not mentioned the "special someone" in my blog ever. The reason is I cannot mention anything about it, not only in my blog, but I cannot mention it AT ALL! You've gotta believe me... like the other time when we were supposed to meet up, I've only just casually mentioned that in my sms and we didn't get to meet because he met with a car accident (oh, he was ok, not a serious one, but it took him some time to lodge a police report etc and he had to get to work after that, so had to cancel meeting me); During another occasion, he was supposed to drop by my office to pick up some pudding, and due to me and my big mouth, I've sort of told my boss about it. Well, he couldn't come because he wasn't feeling quite well that morning; Recently, we've planned to join a combat class together, but soon as I've told Fiz about it, I found out that Master C wasn't going to teach that weekend, so we didn't go... That's why, I'm keeping this 200% secret from now on, sorry gals.

Anyways... you won't be interested in that sort of topic after all right?

Right... I had a great time at gym today with my cousin sister, who's a first timer to the gym (I can only bring her to gym now cuz she only just turned 16 this year). To here, everything were just so amazing, she even grew quite fond of the cross trainer, goshh... We joined body jam, the instructor was not so bad, not quite diva like those instructors whose class I used to join, but it was interesting enough. Only I hate that last block, you know those newer release, those performance choreo. I just got bored after too many repetition. Surprisingly, as a first timer, my cousin did very well, she managed to follow all instructions and performed all the moves.

Body jam was followed by combat, as the opening, this was what the instructor said:

"C------ is not here today, I don't know what happened to him but he called me last minute to replace this class. My name is Nic---, nice to meet you all...."

Ok, did I sensed that he wasn't so pleased with the last minute arrangement or what? Anyways, my cuz and me did the warm up track together, and she went out to refill our water bottle, came back to do track 3 with me and she decided to discontinue with the class. Firstly, she found that the studio was too stuffy, secondly, she didn't really like combat. Ok... so I left soon after that as, can't just leave her waiting right? We went to explore almost all the machines, try out a few and headed to the steam bath and shower. After gym was some light shopping (didn't manage to buy anything except for my gummy bears replenishment) and afternoon tea at Secret Recipe.

Feedback from my cousin was she didn't really max out on exercising but didn't feel comfortable with her breathing, so, the plan is to bring her to another set of classes with other instructors, and see whether she feel otherwise; for me, I wasn't feeling quite well since Friday, like I'm gonna fall sick. With this not so top condition, I didn't really push myself at gym today. Besides, body jam is not my favorite class after all.

Ok, going to send my cousin home. There goes the weekend, in a blink.

Caramel Mudcake Cupcake

I've got an apprentice this weekend... My cousin is over to stay for the weekend and I'm bringing her to try out the gym at LM tomorrow. She's really excited about it. But too bad I heard that our dear combat master will not be teaching tomorrow.


Caramel has always been my cousin's favorite, she always order Caramel Frappucino or the Caramel Ice Blended when we go Starbucks or Coffee Bean... So the sound of caramel cupcake made her went all enthusiastic to learn how to make them.


This is a very simple recipe I got from the internet, no need to use electric mixer, only need to combine all the ingredients, this case, she can easily bake on her own at home.

Lynnx - that box on top is reserved for you for food tasting purpose. ;)

Finished reading Harry Potter!

I FINISHED THE BOOK!!!

I was left with 200 pages last night. Left office after work without further delay and I didn't even go to gym. Finally, finished reading it at about 2.30am... hmm... the book is good, like everyone said (don't worry, no spoiler, read on...) it's the best one among all 7 installments. You will find that many things which didn't sound important, which you didn't pay much attention to, will appear to be something quite significant in the last book - good plot! I think there will be "forum" soon to discuss on the book, but in separate emails not in here lah.

Went for my usual pump at LM before my cousin came over. Hobbes kept telling us before each track that it's an easy track, so try to load up (well, except for back track, he warned) BUT, no one can quite agree - they are all tough tracks! Nevertheless, I love the bicep (Pump It) and abs (Shake Your Tail Feather) tracks. Did my usual weights except for the back track (7kg instead of 7.5kg, hey, it makes a different lah) because of Hobbes' warning towards that track. At the end of the class, I felt a bit sick and dizzy, on this remarks Hobbes also said I looked quite pale.

Came back, told my cousin that we'll delay the cupcake making to after dinner so I can take a nap. Taking a nap after a pump class is just heaven! One of the best indulgences.

Be Patient with Me Please!

From: Shaniza Wan Chik (Desa Pandan)
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 10:39 AM
To: Farida Omar; The Baker; Radhihah BT NAIM
Subject: harry potter (no spoiler)

Hey Guys!

Hah! I’ve finally finished reading it! Though it took a while since I had to wrestle it from hubby and in between weddings, visit to hospital (my nephew contracted the HFM virus), swollen tonsil and runny nose, and cake frosting. I must say it’s a very good book, better than Prisoner of Azkaban! JK Rowling really did explain everything!

Nazrul started late, I was already at chapter 21 when he ‘borrowed’ my book, but then on Tuesday night after I fell asleep knocked out from Actifed, he ended up finishing the book. He didn’t sleep at all the whole night, and finished at about 6.30am. Dahsyat tak? So last night after I’ve finished, we discussed about the plots, characters and some facts that have been forgotten. Macam forum pulak… So cepat la finish….

Regards,

xxx

From: Radhihah BT NAIM
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 10:50 AM
To: 'The Baker'; 'Shaniza Wan Chik (Desa Pandan)'; 'Farida Omar'
Subject: RE: harry potter (no spoiler)

Finished already, last tues.. wait till u fin.. then all of us can do our small forum of Harry P..

Thank you & regards

xxx

OK OK!!! I'm trying, REALLY trying hard k... I only managed two and a half chapter last night... left office late, traffic was bad due to rain, had dinner and accompanied mum a while (I see her less than 2 hours a day, can you believe it?), shower... by the time I started with my reading, it was already 11pm... I couldn't even hold up my eye lid after an hour! I will definately finish the book before end of the week, I will actually not sleep until I finish the book this Friday night.